Container



May 5, 1942. L. E. BENNETT ETAL 2,282,158

CONTAINER Filed Feb. 18, 1939 I H527 f/M.

' A 77' ORA/5 Y Patented May 5, 94

Loren E. Bennett and Arthur C. Dahl, Hinsdale;

Ill., assignor to Western Electric Company, In-

corporated,' "New York -`-rl1 1i11icati m February 1s, 1939, serial Nd. 257,184 'y solaims. (creia-31)' v This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to containers for storing ink used in stamping operations.

In the manufacture of certain products, it is desirable to mark portions thereof with identifying characters or symbols. For example, the terminals of electrical apparatus may be marked during manufacture to facilitate subsequent Wiring operations. In many cases these identifying characters are conveniently applied to the apparatus by means of rubber stamps. Rubber stamps have been used for this purpose in connection with conventional inking pads and this procedure is well adapted to the application of slow drying inks, such as oil base compositions. However, when inks of this type are used, it is necessary to provide a long process period for the ink to dry on the apparatus with consequent delays in production. Certain quick drying inks, such as those having a lacquer base, will give satisfactory service but they cannot be handled readily with conventional means because the ink dries and becomes set on the pad and on the stamp which hampers the operation.

An object of this invention is the provision of a container of simple and inexpensive construction for storing stamping inks of the quick drying type and maintaining the stored inks continuously in proper condition for use.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided an ink container having a tight-fitting cover with longitudinal slots therein, an absorbent pad saturated with a solvent for the ink in its bottom portion and a, perforated shelf positioned over the pad. The ink is carried on metal plates which are inserted into the container onto the shelf through one of the slots in the cover. The plates are withdrawn from the container only for the interval necessary to ink the stamp and solvent vapor within the container, supplied from the pad, maintains the ink at proper consistency.

Following is a more complete description of the invention taken in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which the single iigure is a perspective drawing partly in section of a container embodying certain features of the invention.

The container is conveniently vformed from sheet metal and may be rectangular in shape with a at bottom I0, side walls Il and a re- New York, N. Y.,'a corporatonof l5 secured to the side walls oithel contanerby any suitable means such as welding.

Between the shelf and the bottom is a pad I6 of felt or other absorbent material. The pad is saturated with a volatile solvent for the ink to be accommodated. Many quick drying inks set by evaporation of a solvent and may contain pigment, nitro-cellulose lacquer and a lacquer solvent such as acetone or amyl acetate. The solvent to be added to the pad depends upon the composition of the ink, but it is in general desirmovable but tight-fitting cover I2. Spaced from able to use the same solvent in the ink and on the pad so that evaporation from the pad will maintain a continuous supply of ink solvent vapor in the container. The supply of solvent in the pad is conveniently replenished as needed byv removing the container cover and pouring solvent on the perforated plate.

The ink I1, which is mixed to a viscous consistency to facilitate application of the characters in sharp outline, is supported on metal plates I8 with a separate plate for each color of ink. These plates are preferably made of aluminum and are substantially rectangular with one end portion I9 rolled to act as a handle. Each plate is inserted into the container through a longitudinal opening 2|! in the container cover. The bottom edge of the plate rests on the perforated shelf and the rolled upper end portion of the plate extends from the container.

To prevent scraping of the ink from the plate as the plate is Withdrawn and inserted through the slots, the slots are formed with restricted end portions 2| which correspond to the vertical edges of the plates. With vthis construction a shoulder at each slot end portion engages the plate as it is moved through the slot and holds the ink out of contact with the edge of the slot adjacent to the ink.

The plate is withdrawn from thejcontainer only for the short interval necessary to ink the stamp. At all other times the ink on the plate is subjected to the action vof ysolvent vapor supplied from the pad so that the ink is always in proper condition for use.

It will be apparent that modifications of the structure specifically described herein are feasible and it is to be understood that the invention is limited only by the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a container for quick drying stamping ink and the like incorporating a volatile solvent, means for maintaining a vapor of said solvent Within the container, a plate normally positioned taining a, solvent for the ink in the bottom ofthe container, a tight-tting cover" having a longitudinal slot therein, an ink-supporting plate norg mally positioned in the container adjacent to the pad and adapted to be withdrawn from the co`n" tainer through the slot in the cover, said slot being of irregular conguration and being adapted to direct the plate as it is passed through the slot to hold the ink bearing portion of the plate out of contactwith the cover. Y Y t 3. In a container forink of the quick-drying type incorporating a volatile solvent, a bottom, a plurality of side walls, a, plurality of brackets inside the container secured tothe side Walls and spaced from the bottom, a perforated metal shelf supported on said brackets, an absorbent pad containing a supply of said volatile solvent positioned between the bottom and the shelf, an aluminum plate for supporting the ink, said plate being normally positioned on the perforated shelf and adapted to be withdrawn from the container, and a tight-tting cover having a longitudinal slottherein for passage of the ink supporting plate into -and out of the container, said slot having a relatively Wide portion corresponding to the ink bearing portion of the plate and restricted end portions for holding the ink bearing portion of the plate out of contact with the cover when the plate is passed through the slot.

LOREN E. BENNETT. ARTHUR. C. DAHL. 

